Marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure

ABSTRACT

A marine propeller with an adjustable exhaust structure is disclosed. Each adjustable exhaust device of the adjustable exhaust structure includes an exhaust hole unit with exhaust through holes cut through the outer surface and inner surface of the propeller hub of the marine propeller, an adjustment member with shielding portions mounted in the exhaust hole unit, and a fastening member for securing the adjustment member in position. The adjustment member is movable to adjust the shielding area of the shielding portions relative to the exhaust through holes when disengaged from the constraint of the fastening member. Thus, the exhaust volume is adjustable to fit different conditions without changing any component parts of the marine propeller, facilitating ease of use of the marine propeller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to marinepropellers and more particularly, to a marine propeller with anadjustable exhaust structure for allowing adjustment of exhaust volume.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,003 discloses a propeller device, which comprises apropeller body with a propeller hub having 4 propeller blades extendingtherefrom and an aperture on each propeller blade, and a plug having adiametric profile shaped to be received and retained within eachaperture. The vent plugs are provided with openings therethrough so thatfluids can flow from a passage within a hub of the propeller device to aregion proximate the outer cylindrical surface of the hub. The plugs canbe changed to modify the size of the ventilation aperture without havingto change the propeller device itself.

The propeller device is driven by an engine to move the propeller bladesthrough water, achieving propeller thrust and forcing the boat to moveforwards. At the same time, waste engine gas enters the passage of thepropeller hub. At this time, a part of waste engine gas is exhaustedthrough the ventilation aperture. Thus, the ventilation apertures of theplugs assist lowering the internal air pressure of the passage of thepropeller hub, reducing water pressure from the propeller blades andenhancing propelling speed of the propeller blades.

However, under different application conditions, such as water level,load, temperatures, and etc., the user must selectively use differentsizes of plugs having different dimensions of ventilation apertures, orplugs without any ventilation aperture to adjust the exhaust volume ofthe propeller device to an optimal condition for better propellerperformance.

On other words, the user must prepare many different plugs havingdifferent dimensions of ventilation apertures. Preparing a large numberof plugs relatively increases the cost. Further, the plugs may be missedeasily when not in use. Therefore, the aforesaid prior art design ofpropeller device is not convenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a marinepropeller, which allows convenient adjustment of the exhaust volumewithout changing any component parts, facilitating ease of use.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a marinepropeller comprises a propeller body. The propeller body comprises apropeller hub and a plurality of propeller blades. The propeller hubcomprises an outer surface and an inner surface. The propeller bladesare extended outwardly from the outer surface of the propeller hub. Themarine propeller further comprises at least one adjustable exhaustdevice. Each adjustable exhaust device comprises an exhaust hole unitcut through the outer surface and inner surface of the propeller hub, anadjustment member mounted in the exhaust hole unit, and fastening meansfor securing the adjustment member to the exhaust hole unit in position.The exhaust hole unit comprises at least one exhaust through hole. Theadjustment member comprises at least one shielding portion for shieldingthe at least one exhaust through hole. Further, before the adjustmentmember is secured in position by the fastening means, the adjustmentmember is movable relative to the exhaust hole unit to adjust theshielding area of the at least one shielding portion relative to the atleast one exhaust through hole.

Thus, under different application conditions, the user can adjust theexhaust volume to the optimal status without changing any componentparts of the marine propeller, enabling the marine propeller to providea proper speed. Thus, the marine propeller is very convenient to use.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fullyunderstood by reference to the following specification in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denotelike components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a marine propeller with an adjustableexhaust structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the marine propeller with an adjustableexhaust structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention,illustrating one exhaust hole unit in the propeller body of the marinepropeller.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3, illustrating oneadjustment member installed in the exhaust hole unit.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the adjustment member shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the adjustment member shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of e marine propeller with an adjustableexhaust structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the angular position of theadjustment member adjusted relative to the exhaust hole unit.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the angular position of theadjustment member adjusted relative to the exhaust hole unit.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a marine propeller with an adjustable exhauststructure in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating one exhaust hole unit in a propeller body.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the marine propeller with an adjustableexhaust structure in accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a marine propeller in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention is shown. The marine propeller 10comprises a propeller body 20, three adjustable exhaust devices 30. Eachadjustable exhaust device 30 comprises, installed in the propeller body20, an exhaust hole unit 40, an adjustment member 50, and a fasteningmember 60.

The propeller body 20 comprises a propeller hub 22, and three propellerblades 24. The propeller hub 22 comprises an outer tube 222 and an innertube 224 integrally formed of multiple rib plates (not shown), and anouter surface 226 and an inner surface 228 located on the outer tube222. The propeller blades 24 are outwardly extended from the outersurface 226 of the propeller hub 22. The adjustable exhaust devices 30are respectively disposed between each two adjacent propeller blades 24.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 2 and 3 again, each exhaust hole unit 40comprises a recess 42, an axle hole 44, and six exhaust through holes46. The recess 42 is located on the outer surface 226 comprises a bottomwall 422, an inner peripheral wall 424, and two blocks 426 protrudedfrom the inner peripheral wall 424. The axle hole 44 and the exhaustthrough holes 46 extend through the bottom wall 422 of the recess 42 andthe inner surface 228 of the propeller hub 22. Further, the exhaustthrough holes 46 are spaced around the axle hole 44.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each adjustment member 50 comprises a shaft52, and an adjustment wheel 54 formed integral with one end of the shaft52. The shaft 52 comprises a groove 522 extending around the peripherythereof. The adjustment wheel 54 is shaped like a gearwheel, comprisinga circular peripheral wall 542, and a plurality of notches 544 arrangedaround a circle, i.e., equiangularly spaced around the circularperipheral wall 542. The adjustment wheel 54 further comprises sixthrough holes 546 cut through the opposing top and bottom sides thereofand spaced around the shaft 52, and a shielding portion 548 between eachtwo adjacent through holes 546.

Referring to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 2 and 4 again, in each adjustable exhaustdevice 30, the shaft 52 of the adjustment member 50 is inserted into theaxle hole 44 of the exhaust hole unit 40, the adjustment wheel 54 of theadjustment member 50 is set in the recess 42 of the exhaust hole unit40, and the two blocks 426 of the recess 42 are respectively engagedinto one respective notch 544 of the adjustment wheel 54. The fasteningmember 60 is a C-shaped retaining ring mounted in the groove 522 of theshaft 52 of the adjustment member 50 to secure the adjustment member 50to the exhaust hole unit 40. The user can detach the fastening member60, and then remove the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50out of the recess 42, and then rotate the adjustment member 50 to thedesired angle, and then set the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustmentmember 50 in the recess 42 again, and thus the shielding portions 548 ofthe adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 are moved relativeto the exhaust through holes 46 to change their shielding area relativeto the exhaust through holes 46 and to further adjust the exhaust volumeof the marine propeller 10.

For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the shieldingportions 548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 aremoved away from the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40and the exhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 are fullyopened. At this time, the exhaust volume of the marine propeller 10reaches the maximum level. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, theexhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 are fully shieldedby the shielding portions 548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of theadjustment member 50, and the internal gas of the propeller hub 22cannot be exhausted. At this time, the exhaust volume of the marinepropeller 10 reaches the minimum level. Further, the shielding portions548 of the adjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 can be movedto a position to partially shield the exhaust through holes 46 of theexhaust hole unit 40, as shown in FIG. 4. Subject to the aforesaidoperation of rotating the adjustment member 50 relative to the exhausthole unit 40, the shielded area of the exhaust through holes 46 of theexhaust hole unit 40 is relatively adjusted.

In other words, under different application conditions, the user canadjust the exhaust volume to the optimal status without changing anycomponent parts of the marine propeller 10, enabling the marinepropeller 10 to provide a proper speed. Thus, the marine propeller 10 isvery convenient to use.

It is to be noted that in each of the aforesaid adjustable exhaustdevices 30, the fastening member 60 is not limited to C-shaped retainingring, and any of a variety of other fastening means capable ofprohibiting the adjustment member 50 from escaping out of the exhausthole unit 40 and allowing movement of the shielding portions 548 of theadjustment wheel 54 of the adjustment member 50 relative to the exhaustthrough holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 before fixation can be usedas a substitute. Further, the number and locations of the blocks 426 ofthe recess 42 of each exhaust hole unit 40 may be changed withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. One single block426 can also achieve the same effect of securing the adjustment member50 in position.

In the aforesaid first embodiment, the relative positioning between theexhaust hole unit 40 and the respective adjustment member 50 andquantitative adjustment of the relative angle therebetween are achievedby means of selectively engaging the relative smaller number of theblocks 426 of the exhaust hole unit 40 into the relatively larger numberof the notches 544 of the adjustment member 50. Alternatively, theadjustment member 50 can be made having a relatively smaller number ofblocks for selectively engaging a larger number of notches in theexhaust hole unit 40. Further, it is not a limitation to arrange thenotches around a circle.

Further, the number and arrangement of the exhaust through holes 46 ofthe exhaust hole unit 40 and the number and arrangement of the throughholes 546 and shielding portions 548 of each adjustment member 50 arenot limited to the aforesaid design. Actually, each adjustable exhaustdevice 30 can be made having at least one set of exhaust through holes46, through holes 546 and shielding portions 548 to achieve the sameeffects.

Further, the marine propeller 10 can be made having at least oneadjustable exhaust device 30 to achieve the aforesaid exhaust volumeadjustment effect. However, arranging one adjustable exhaust device 30between each two adjacent propeller blades 24 can balance the resistanceof the propeller blades 24, facilitating smooth operation of the marinepropeller 10.

In the aforesaid first embodiment, the recess 42, axle hole 44 andexhaust through holes 46 of the exhaust hole unit 40 are located on thepropeller body 20, however, this arrangement is not a limitation. In asecond embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,the exhaust hole unit 70 of the marine propeller comprises a throughhole 72 extending through the outer surface 226 and inner surface 228 ofthe propeller hub 22 of the propeller body 20, and a plug 74 fixedlymounted in the through hole 72. The plug 72 defines an axle hole 742,and a plurality of exhaust through holes 744. Thus, this exhaust holeunit 70 achieves the same effects as the exhaust hole unit 40 of theaforesaid first embodiment.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A marine propeller comprising a propeller body,said propeller body comprising a propeller hub and a plurality ofpropeller blades, said propeller hub comprising an outer surface and aninner surface, said propeller blades being extended outwardly from saidouter surface of said propeller hub, wherein said marine propellerfurther comprises: at least one adjustable exhaust device, each saidadjustable exhaust device comprising an exhaust hole unit cut throughsaid outer surface and said inner surface of said propeller hub, anadjustment member mounted in said exhaust hole unit, and fastening meansfor securing said adjustment member to said exhaust hole unit inposition, said exhaust hole unit comprising at least one exhaust throughhole, said adjustment member comprising at least one shielding portionfor shielding said at least one exhaust through hole, said adjustmentmember being movable relative to said exhaust hole unit to adjust theshielding area of said at least one shielding portion relative to saidat least one exhaust through hole before being secured in position bysaid fastening means.
 2. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 1,wherein said fastening means is a fastening member detachably mounted atsaid adjustment member, said at least one shielding portion of saidadjustment member being movable relative to said at least one exhaustthrough hole after detachment of said fastening member from saidadjustment member.
 3. The marine propeller as claimed in claim 2,wherein said adjustment member is rotatable relative to said propellerhub to adjust the shielding area of said at least one shielding portionrelative to said at least one exhaust through hole.
 4. The marinepropeller as claimed in claim 3, wherein said exhaust hole unit furthercomprises an axle hole; said adjustment member comprises a shaftinserted into said axle hole and rotatable relative to said propellerhub after detachment of said fastening member from said adjustmentmember, and an adjustment disc formed integral with said shaft, saidadjustment disc comprising at least one through hole and said at leastone shielding portion, said at least one through hole being kept incommunication with said at least one exhaust through hole.
 5. The marinepropeller as claimed in claim 4, wherein said exhaust hole unit furthercomprises a recess located on said outer surface of said propeller hub,said recess defining therein a bottom wall; said axle hole and said atleast one exhaust through hole extend through said bottom wall of saidrecess and said inner surface of said propeller body; said adjustmentdisc is set in said recess.
 6. The marine propeller as claimed in claim5, wherein one of said exhaust hole unit and said adjustment membercomprises a plurality of notches, and the other of said exhaust holeunit and said adjustment member comprises at least one block selectivelyengaged into said notches.
 7. The marine propeller as claimed in claim6, wherein said recess of said exhaust hole unit further comprises aninner peripheral wall; said at least one block is extended from saidinner peripheral wall; said adjustment disc of said adjustment membercomprises a peripheral wall; said notches are located on the peripheralwall of said adjustment disc of said adjustment member.
 8. The marinepropeller as claimed in claim 7, wherein said exhaust hole unitcomprises two blocks disposed at two opposing sides; said notches ofsaid adjustment member are equiangularly spaced around a circle.
 9. Themarine propeller as claimed in claim 4, wherein said exhaust hole unitcomprises a plurality of exhaust through holes spaced around said axlehole; said adjustment disc of said adjustment member comprises aplurality of through holes spaced around said shaft and respectivelykept in communication with said exhaust through holes of said exhausthole unit, and one said shielding portion disposed between each twoadjacent said through holes.
 10. The marine propeller as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said shaft of said adjustment member comprises a grooveextending around the periphery thereof; said fastening means is aC-shaped retaining ring mounted in said groove of said shaft.
 11. Themarine propeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exhaust hole unitfurther comprises a recess located on said outer surface of saidpropeller hub; said adjustment member is set in said recess.
 12. Themarine propeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least oneadjustable exhaust device is arranged in such a manner that one saidadjustable exhaust device is disposed between each two adjacent saidpropeller blades.
 13. A marine propeller comprising a propeller body,said propeller body comprising a propeller hub and a plurality ofpropeller blades, said propeller hub comprising an outer surface and aninner surface, said propeller blades being extended outwardly from saidouter surface of said propeller hub, wherein said marine propellerfurther comprises: at least one adjustable exhaust device, each saidadjustable exhaust device comprising an exhaust hole unit, an adjustmentmember mounted in said exhaust hole unit, and fastening means forsecuring said adjustment member to said exhaust hole unit in position,said exhaust hole unit comprising a through hole extending through saidouter surface and said inner surface of said propeller hub and a plugfixedly mounted in said through hole, said plug comprising at least oneexhaust through hole, said adjustment member comprising at least oneshielding portion for shielding said at least one exhaust through hole,said at least one shielding portion being movable relative to said atleast one exhaust through hole to adjust the shielding area of said atleast one shielding portion relative to said at least one exhaustthrough hole before being secured in position by said fastening means.